Apr 25th 2010 - WELKS

Judge:Miss S A Leslie (Risdene)

Entries: 175 for 207

Show Critique:

I started the day with veteran dog followed by some excellent juvenile dog classes which were very enticing. Throughout the day size was sometimes a little difficult to come to terms with when exhibits at the top of the scale were the more shapely and sound but as long as they were spannable they still featured if they had the attributes breed and conformation-wise to do the job they were bred for. Generally I determined that there was no need for a diatribe from yours truly as I found my lovely entry on the whole brought forward much of what I was looking for and I thank exhibitors for that. Just remember while I love a proper double coat I still like a tidy coat! Heads were definitely improved with very few of the stoppy, round eyed exhibits I do not find typical. There were a few strangely grubby ones and some would have benefited from some tlc round their eyes to guard against stray hairs causing irritation. Be that as it may there were some smashing classes with dogs not making the cut that on another day would figure in the reckoning.

Results

Veteran - Dog

Set the yard stick for the exhibits to follow. Clearly a dog of immense quality and although I had not imagined handing out a duplicate ticket it is testament to the longevity of this breed and this male in particular. I will not repeat what I have said before but suffice to say a remarkable 9 year old he continued to fill the eye, exhibited no degeneration but indeed was fit and supple and moved with ground covering ease and had to because my line-up pleased me greatly. CC and BOB and later was pleased to see him go Gp4

Minor Puppy - Dog

a really agile dog who felt fit and supple, satisfactory front for his age with superb well padded feet, perhaps a little plain in ear but good skull with strong underjaw, presents good underline and moved easily

Puppy - Dog

Undoubtedly a star in the making, what you see is what you get, of correct size and readily spannable, smart and balanced he handles well from nose to his tail, good head piece with well moulded skull and correct foreface, lovely expression, super legs and feet, good angulation throughout, free from any exaggeration, well ribbed back, good strong loin for his age and knows how to move, in perfect coat with thick pelt, and not overly mature for his age BP

Junior - Dog

Another nice class with a number of good contenders, racy individual with much to like, appeals for size and has the desired narrowness, good height to length ratios, ok in front, should continue to develop in head, but well set onto correct neck, excellent dense and harsh jacket over good skin which ought to do the trick in Border country for sure

Yearling - Dog

Headed a lovely pair of high class individuals. Both could stand narrower in front at times but both are spannable and of good type and size. Such a shapely and well made exhibit , preferred his length of bones, well proportioned and resplendent in a superb top and under coat which together with a good pelt demonstrated all that the standard requires, super reach of neck and lay of shoulder which flows into an excellent backline, correct loin and good rear assembly. Moved with real drive from behind.

Graduate - Dog

High class exhibit who gave me goose bumps as I inspected him at close quarters, masculine but nothing overdone, very pleasing well shaped and set eye to give a typical expression, has superb otter head with correct skull and muzzle, and fill under the eye, strong underjaw, it all falls into your hand just right. Stands balanced and parallel on all four well padded feet with correct bone, good neckline, shoulder and upperarm, is correct in forechest, and like his half brother has the true underline, he has the racy, strong quarters and conformation required to move as he should. He is still a youngster and can possibly tighten just a tad more but he could not be denied the RCC

Post Graduate - Dog

A really nice sort to go over, everything in it’s place just wanted him to be a tad less neat and have a little more scope, nevertheless could get anywhere and strong enough to do what he had to when he did. Fits the bill head and expressionwise, correct bone and stands his ground well, sound as a bell and moves with real economy.

close decision between 2 and 3, sadly 3 was in his underwear but had the make and shape to undoubtedly be in the mix. 2 is a masculine, racy individual with good height to length ratios, attractive in head but could be less pronounced in stop

Limit - Dog

Yet another class that gave me so much pleasure to run the rule over. My winner is a previous favourite and the remarks made then still apply. Having fought so hard for the class I thought he would be my eventual winner but in the challenge he just gave it all away however I am sure he will have his day

Has continued to develop since I judged him as a juvenile. Handles well with the attributes one wants, good size, spannable and feels balanced, lovely forehand and outlook, fit, good moving and unlucky to meet 1 today

Veteran - Bitch

The females of the species were showing their years just a little but it was pleasing to review this nice specimen who gained her second CC from me and was subsequently crowned. I am pleased to report that there was nothing to suggest she was not worthy of her place in the upper house

Minor Puppy - Bitch

rather deceiving, thought she might be biggish but comes to hand well, spannable with good bone, and while still puppyish had good body shape and was sound, satisfactory head pattern and appealed with her typical, keen expression. Good dense coat.

Puppy - Bitch

thought both 1 and 2 had good skulls with heads set on well, would prefer a shade less of I but scored in legs and feet and forehand generally and I preferred her shoulder and upper arm to 2, good length of bone and moved out well

Showy individual especially when on a loose lead, well proportioned and firm in body with lots to like. Assured and easy to forget she was still a puppy although not overly mature for her age, feet could be tighter for me

Junior - Bitch

Lovely class of sound quality bitches all of obvious merit and with much to offer for the future. It was a treat to find this beautifully constructed honest bitch who appealed from every angle. I fell for her lovely otterhead and everytime I caught sight of her free standing she filled the eye, she is just made right and therefore needs little interference. Moved freely and accurately. Gorgeous legs and feet. In perfect harsh, dense jacket I could go on but suffice to say it was a pleasure to award her the CC just had to bow to the greater experience of the dog who was fresher in the challenge

Yearling - Bitch

There were some lovely typical heads in this class headed by this quality specimen who exhibits a lovely head pattern, and who can’t really stand wrong. Rates highly in most departments, looks classic, unfortunately her coat was past it’s sell by date and therefore looks heavier both in bone and body than she is on closer inspection, has the conformation required and it shows to advantage when she moves to cover the ground well

Graduate - Bitch

Typical and good to go over, built on highly desirable lines, lithe, active sort who has the pliable springy body where everything is connected with strength but without tension or bulk, moves effectively, reaching and driving but with no wasted effort, not yet fully in coat but there was evidence of correct texture

Post Graduate - Bitch

Very taking exhibit, nicely proportioned and very feminine without losing the necessary power where required, dressed to impress with excellent coat and pelt, good underline, correct angulation, very pleasing head pattern and expression

athletic type, built on good lines, head is shapely and well moulded but ears a tad plain which detracts from her expression, proof of a good dense jacket, typical and comes to hand well, would prefer slightly less length in her racy quarters

Limit - Bitch

There were others in this class who would easily have made the cards on another day, This is a frustratingly nice exhibit. Frustrating because she simply does not care if she makes the best of herself and in the challenge made me think of the song ?how do you catch a cloud and pin it down?. She is just right for size, narrow and spannable with beautiful legs and feet and forehand generally, good skull and muzzle, keen expression, nothing over done she comes together well and is a true blue and tan in tip top order

Well aware of her worth this one is the opposite and puts all in, stands with authority and energy, made well all through with very shapely body, very typical head and expression, head well set on, good neck and shoulders, perhaps just a shade bigger than I ideally like but unlucky to meet winner

Open - Bitch

I really liked this one, worthy of a place in the upper house I am sure she will gain entrance soon but very unlucky to meet such a lovely opponent in the Junior bitch today. Appeals on so many levels, good ottery head with lovely shaped eye, good outline and height to length ratios, well made front and rear assemblies, strong in loin, moves out well with real efficiency RCC in a hot line-up